Page 42 of Thawed Gladiator Thrax

As we leave my room to walk Elodie to the exit, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. This is just the beginning—of my transformation, of our story together, of the life that stretches out before us. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I know I can face them with Skye by my side and the strength of Fortuna at my back.

“You okay?” Skye asks softly as we make our way back to my room. “I know that was a lot, both physically and emotionally.”

Nodding, I pull her closer. “I’m okay, thanks to you.” I give her a thumbs up, trying to lighten the mood, but she’s too smart to let me distract her.

“Tell me, Thrax. You’re really doing okay?”

“The way you handled Elodie’s questions kept me from falling into the past… I don’t know how I would have done this without you. I’m good.”

She looks up at me, her eyes full of what can only be defined as affection. “You don’t have to do any of this alone, Thrax. I’m here.”

As we reach my door, I pause, suddenly reluctant to let her go. “Stay with me tonight?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just to sleep. I… I don’t want to be alone.”

Skye’s smile is soft, understanding. “Of course. Let’s go to my room, since I already have a double bed.”

As we settle into bed, careful of my tender back, I pull her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. The steady rhythm of her breathing is more soothing than any lullaby. I’ve never thought of myself as a selfish man before, but I am. I’m not so upset that I need company tonight. It’s just that I wanted Skye here because I like having her nearby.

“Skye?” I murmur, sleep already tugging at the edges of my mind.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you. For everything.”

She shifts, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw. “Always,” she whispers.

As I drift off to sleep, Fortuna’s serene face floats in my mind, no longer a distant goddess but a symbol of the future I’m forging. A future that, against all odds, includes the remarkable woman in my arms.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Skye

The small box in my hands feels impossibly light for something so monumental. My heart races as I make my way to Thrax’s room, barely containing my excitement. This tiny device, no bigger than a hearing aid, represents the most important thing I’ve done in my career. It took years of school and training to have the skills to tackle it, plus countless late nights and more caffeine than I care to admit. But more importantly, it’s a bridge—a way for Thrax to truly connect with this new world he’s found himself in.

Pausing outside his door, I take a deep breath, wiggling my fingers and toes to help compose myself. It wouldn’t do to burst in like an overexcited puppy. With as much dignity as I can muster (which, admittedly, isn’t much), I knock.

“Intra,” Thrax’s deep voice calls out.

I enter to find him sitting by the window, steel wool and a small piece of wood in his hands. The sight of him so focused, his brow furrowed in concentration, reminds me of how much I care for this man.

As he gets a guilty look on his face and hides what he’s been working on while reaching with the other hand to turn on thetranslation app, I say “Hey,” unable to keep the grin off my face. I have a secret, but it seems he’s keeping a secret of his own—a good one, I hope. “I’ve got something for you.”

Thrax lifts his gaze to me, his eyes lighting up in a way that makes me feel like the most important person in the world. “What is it?”

Approaching him, I hold out the box with a flourish. “Only the coolest thing ever,” I declare, half words, half song. “Go on, open it!”

He sets aside his carving project, making sure to hide it behind his ass, and takes the box, handling it with a gentleness that still surprises me, knowing that he was a fearsome gladiator in his distant past. As he lifts the lid, his eyebrows raise in curiosity. “It’s… very small,” he observes, peering at the tiny device nestled in protective foam.

“It’s an in-ear translator,” I explain, practically wiggling with excitement. “Remember John MacKenzie, the tech wizard I told you about? He’s been working on integrating my software into wearable hardware. This is the first prototype. Well… one of the first two.” I hold mine up, still in its box. I felt it was only right for him to try his first.

Thrax’s eyes widen as understanding dawns. “You mean…?”

I nod enthusiastically. “This little guy goes right in your ear, translating in real-time. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s a huge step forward.”

He picks up the device, marveling at its size. “How does it work?”

“Here, let me show you.” I gently take it from him. “It fits right in your ear, like this.” I demonstrate, carefully placing it in his ear. “There’s a companion app on your phone that lets you adjust settings and choose languages. For now, it’s set for Latin to English and vice versa.”

Thrax sits very still as I fit the device, his eyes never leaving my face. When it’s in place, I step back, grabbing my own earbud from its case. “Ready to give it a try?”

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